Rice Exports by Country

January 12, 2020 by Daniel Workman

Worldwide rice exports by country totaled an estimated US$24.5 billion in 2018, down by an average -7.1% for all exporting countries since 2014 when overall rice shipments were valued at $26.4 billion. Year over year, the value of global rice exports gained a modest 0.7% from the $24.4 billion worth of exported rice in 2017.

From a continental perspective, over three-quarters (77.8%) of global rice exports originated from Asian countries with shipments amounting to $19.1 billion.

North American exporters supplied 7.2% of global rice exports, trailed by Europe at 7.6% then Latin America (5.9%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean. Smaller percentages came from Oceania (1%) led by Australia then Africa (0.5%).

For research purposes, the 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix for rice is 1006.

Rice Exports by Country

• Countries
• Advantages
• Opportunities
• Companies

Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of rice during 2018.

1. India: US$7.4 billion (30.1% of total rice exports)
2. Thailand: $5.6 billion (22.7%)
3. Vietnam: $2.2 billion (9%)
4. Pakistan: $2 billion (8.2%)
5. United States: $1.7 billion (6.9%)
6. China: $887.3 million (3.6%)
7. Italy: $614.1 million (2.5%)
8. Brazil: $467.9 million (1.9%)
9. Uruguay: $400.2 million (1.6%)
10. Cambodia: $375.2 million (1.5%)
11. Myanmar (Burma): $333.3 million (1.4%)
12. Netherlands: $279 million (1.1%)
13. Belgium: $243.3 million (1%)
14. Australia: $237.6 million (1%)
15. Paraguay: $219.2 million (0.9%)

The listed 15 countries shipped 93.4% of global rice exports in 2018 by value.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing rice exporters since 2014 were: China (up 134.6%), Cambodia (up 62.1%), Netherlands (up 30.5%) then Paraguay (up 23.5%).

Those countries that posted declines in their exported rice sales were led by: Myanmar or Burma (down -46.4%), Australia (down -32.8%), Vietnam (down -24.9%), Uruguay (down -22%) then United States (down -15.3%).